A Belarus-based Nepali businessman has donated $2,000 to a charity set up by UK-based Nepalis that supports small projects in Nepal. Upendra Mahato, Honorary Consul of Belarus to Nepal, and a leading businessman in the former Soviet Republic, says he donated because he was impressed by the campaign initiated by HELP NEPAL Network (HeNN), whose goal it is to raise money from individual Nepalis abroad for small, doable projects in Nepal.
Mahato has also agreed to work as Chief Co-ordinator of the group's campaign-now underway in 10 countries-in the former Soviet republics. HeNN chairperson Rabindra Mishra, who is based in London, says that Nepal has relied too much on foreign aid and it is time that Nepalis around the world do as much as they can for Nepal.
The money donated by Mahato is to be used to complete the registration of HELP NEPAL Network as a charity. Last year HeNN provided ?700 for the construction of a library at Sarswati High School in Dunai, Dolpo. Using the seed grant the locals added a floor to the school building for a science laboratory. (For details see the URL:www.helpnepal.co.uk).